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CORRIE TEN BOOM ( Quote: "When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles, when he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs, when he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy." The amazing story of Corrie Ten Boom is best portrayed in her book “The Hiding Place” which was later made into a film of the same name. As one reads about the Ten Boom Family, especially Corrie Ten Boom, one cannot but be reminded of a number of verses in the Scriptures. It is interesting to look at Corrie Ten Boom’s life in light of these verses and highlight the lessons we can learn. Corrie Ten Boom was the last of four children born to Casper Ten Boom, a watch maker. The family lived in Haalem, the Jewish sector of Through an act of kindness, the family was betrayed and were all arrested. Casper Ten Boom, died only ten days after their arrest. Corrie and her sister Betsie were taken from one concentrated camp to another in A smuggled Bible became a source of great blessing during their incarceration. The Bible was used to hold worship services and many of the women came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. In one of her books, Corrie Ten Boom described how the Dutch speakers amongst them would translate the Word of God, which was in Dutch, into German and someone else would translate it into French and then Polish, Russian, Czech and back to Dutch. Through these meetings, many Jews came to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Corrie Ten Boom was released from Ravensbruck, through a clerical error, a week before all women her age were killed. She spent the rest of her life traveling the world and telling the story of her family. Let us take a look at the life of this wonderful woman of God and see what we can learn. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6) The Ten Boom’s were devoted members of the Dutch Reformed Church and prayer was a way of life to them. Corrie Ten Boom gave her life to the Lord at the age of five and even at that tender age, she was taught to pray. She used to pray specifically for the people who lived in a neighbouring street that they would come to know Jesus. Many years later she was to meet a gentleman who had lived on the very same street and who had become a Christian. God answers prayers, even those of a five year old child. The Word of God admonishes parents to train their children in the ways of God. From Corrie Ten Boom’s life, we learn that a child of five is able to understand what it means to give one’s life to Jesus. Parents ought to teach their children to pray and encourage them to go to Church and fellowship with other Christian children. More importantly, parents should show good example. The Ten Boom parents were said to be known for their kindness and they taught their children the importance of being kind to others. No doubt, it was the values she was taught as a child that enabled her to become such a wonderful ambassador for Jesus Christ. “….Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good……..” (Genesis 50:20) The ways of God are certainly higher than our ways. If only the devil had known how many people would be blessed and saved through the Ten Boom’s testimony, he would have left them alone. But the purposes of God shall always prevail even in the most unlikely places. God enabled Corrie Ten Boom and her sister to minister to many Jews who would perhaps never have come to know the Lord Jesus. No one, not even Corrie Ten Boom herself, ever thought that she would visit as many countries as she did. But that was all in the plan of God for her. If she and her family had never been arrested, sent to Ravensbruck, she would never have had a testimony to tell the world. Through such a horrible ordeal, God was glorified. He opened so many doors for her to go to over sixty countries to share her testimony and speak about the love and faithfulness of God. When it looks like things are rough, let us not despair because our God is able to turn things around in our favour. He is able to bring something good out of evil. Remember, He has the last say. “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the earth (Ecclesiastes 3:1) The Bible says that Sarah had passed child bearing age (Genesis “..But the Word of God is not chained or imprisoned.” (2 Timothy 2:9 TAB) Prior to saying these words, the Apostle Paul explained that for the sake of the Gospel, he had suffered affliction and had been chained like an animal. But He adds that though he may be chained, the Gospel cannot be chained. The Word of God cannot be bound or imprisoned. In other words, no amount of persecution can stop the Word of God from accomplishing the plans and purposes of God. Paul was still able to write and encourage others while he was incarcerated. Paul and Silas were able to worship God in prison and they did it with such fervency that an earthquake shook the place. At Ravensbruck, God enabled Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, to have a Bible which they were able to use to share the Word of God to so many women. The plan of God was accomplished. “Therefore, if the Son makes you free you are free indeed” (John There are millions of people today who are free, in the sense that they are not physically incarcerated but are nevertheless spiritually and emotionally bound. Many people today are in one kind of bondage or the other; bondage of sin, alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. On the other hand, there are those who are incarcerated but are spiritually free. Though Corrie Ten Boom and her sister were physically incarcerated, yet they were free because they knew the only One who is able to set a man free. It is only in Christ that we can have true freedom, true liberty. “For the vision is for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:3) In one of her books, Corrie Ten Boom tells of how her sister, Betsie, had told her that she felt that God wanted them to set up a house after the war that would minister to refugees. Even though Betsie did not live to see this come to pass, Corrie was able to establish this home for former inmates of the camp. God has spoken to many of His children concerning things that He will do through us. Sometimes, what He says is so mind-boggling that it is difficult for us to believe it. But His Word tells us that there is an appointed time. He is not a man that He should lie neither the Son of man that He should repent. What He says He will do He will do. There is nothing impossible with Him. “Go ye into all the world ad preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark This great commission was not only for His disciples but for all His children. We have been mandated to tell everyone about the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ. After she left prison, Corrie Ten Boom returned to her profession of watch making but she was dissatisfied. She felt that God wanted her to go and share the story of her family, their experience in Ravensbruck but most importantly, the love of God and she did just that. Corrie Ten Boom told everyone who would listen that “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15) One of the things that Corrie Ten Boom always talked about was Forgiveness” and how God has commanded us to forgive our enemies. She recounted how God had put her to the test. In 1947, at the end of one of her speaking engagement, a gentleman came forward to talk to her. He explained that he had been a guard at Ravensbruck and that he had done many evil things but that he had asked God for forgiveness and was now a Christian. She had of course recognized him and his appearance brought back memories. He asked if she too would forgive him. Corrie Ten Boom describes the thoughts that raced through her mind but she obeyed God’s commandment and told him that she forgives him. We too are called to forgive those who have hurt us no matter how badly. May we borrow a leaf from Corrie Ten Boom. “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you….” (Genesis 12:3) God gave this promise to Abram but it was a promise to all the Jewish people. Many people do not understand that this promise still holds today and will stand forever because the Word of God is for eternity. If we bless the people of Even in death, Corrie Ten Boom was blessed. According to the Jewish tradition, only very blessed people are given the special privilege of dying on their birthday. Corrie Ten Boom died on her 91st birthday,
We believers can only thank God for women of God like Corrie Ten Boom who left a wonderful legacy for us to follow. CLICK HERE FOR JAN. 2005 GENERAL OF FAITH CLICK HERE FOR BOOKS BY CORRIE TEN BOOM
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